After returning to Iris he was informed of their next destination and had been dropped off at the docks now, the green havens. The port village and guild watchtower for which the shipwrights commanded as all vessels left and entered under their watch. These ships headed to the west, to Menagerie...
“I’ll be back. Take your time with this. This is all on you to learn what it takes do to be the kind of man you speak of. Grab your own destiny with your own two hands, most of all trust your weapon.” She said as she turned her horse around and left
Paying his way, he boarded a vessel that was headed for the island. Many onboard were also fighters or adventurers of a large variety. Though Cole was seemingly the youngest amongst them, but they payed him no mind as the ship set sail.
A few days passed by before they arrived at the shores at last. Here on this land it was a paradise compared the rest of Eden. Its vast beaches with many green palm trees right next to the deep blue ocean and of course at the center of the island was the coliseum.
A massive arena built when the Kushan's first landed on this island after the war of the Supreme Emperor, they used it to decide the first leader of their clan to lead. And how they decided ever since. Anyone could lead, so long as you had the talent and skill to back it up. You fought and bled in the arena, you earned your keep, and if you earned the attention and audience of the leader, you had the right to challenge them for the position. That's how it always was decided.
But in truth the elders always a hand or eye or ear in the arena to keep things in line, as assassinations and fights were illegal outside the arena, so long as one didn’t get caught or have a quick means of ending themselves and taking their secrets to the grave. One could always find a lamb if they knew where to look.
Getting in line to sign himself up for the arena he watched and observed all those around him. It was your usual rabble, hunters and glory chasers. He wasn't here for the reasons they were.
"Name." The voice of a forward woman said
"Sorry. Cole, of Kalikori." Cole said snapping out of his thoughts
"Class and level?" She asked not caring
"Level 2 Fighter." He said as the woman taking names was a little off put but it didn't show
"Any weapons?" She asked adding to his registry
"Just this sword, and my bow." Cole added
"Alright then, place your gear in your personal storage crate and pick a bunk. When the fights start you'll be allowed to take them, or when you decide to leave." The woman behind the desk said
With this Cole placed his sword in the case as instructed and headed off the barracks to get some rest. The people inside were of all kinds, mercenaries, pirates, dualists, Kushan, humans. The arena was the place to be if you wanted to prove you were greatest and strongest, and of course earn an audience with the leader herself and fight her.
"What brings a kid like you out this way? Cause we damn sure aren't looking for farm boys." A dark grey monkey Demi human asked him sizing him up
"I don't know, heard about this place through the grapevine, figured I'd see what all the buzz is about. Maybe strengthen myself with some new skills. I mean, I imagine there's only so much as a fighter I can do, might as well get serious." Cole said resting in his bunk his eyes closed
The monkey Demi-human pondered this and kicked the bunk.
"Well cmon then. You may carry a sword and bow, but you more than know how to throw a punch, show me how hard, Fighter boy. Oh and just call me Wong." He said getting Cole's attention offering him a hand now
"Cole of Kalikori. You're not gonna double cross me are you?” Cole said unsure of if he could trust him
"Hey I'm just offering you a fair chance in the arena. You're gonna need it, and if you go up against me by chance, you'll know what you're getting into, and I'll know what you're made of. And in here, there's no hard feelings if you face someone who showed you a trick or two." Wong said not offended at all as Cole sighed and accepted his hand
"Alright then. Just don't expect much in return." Cole said being still honest as he was pulled to his feet making Wong laugh
"Oh don't worry, I won’t be doing you any favors in the arena." Wong joked as he led him out in the city to show him around and get him settled in with the locals and kiosks that sold food and services
And at last Wong began his training in unarmed fighting style, how to turn his whole body into a weapon. Though Wong wasn't convincing him to abandon his leather armor, though his argument made sense as it would only slow him down in fighting but still preferred it.
"Alright. Come morning the tournament's start. I wish you the best of luck. You're gonna need it since I started you on this path of the Monk. Keep training and keep at it, maybe you'll level up as one as well. With that I bid you a goodnight." Wong said as he bowed
Immediately the crowd was cheering and worshiping their leader as she waltz through the streets and Wong laughed at Cole who’s eyes were about to pop out of his head despite maintaining a seemingly stoic posture.
“Don't even think about it lover boy." Wong added giving Cold a pat on the back before quickly leaving
As she came closer and smirked as she saw him finally before stopping at him. Cole was indeed admiring the tattoos across her arms and lower legs.
"Like what you see boy? I am available... but I only fancy those that have earned my attention in the arena, and you haven't fought yet. But I will be watching you. Should you impress me enough I shall grant you an audience. Good hunting." She explained putting his mouth closed smirking and giggling to herself as she walked on
Everyone immediately giving him a hard time and now they were indeed gonna give him an even harder fighting chance in the arena.
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Morning came and they were all assembled into the arena finally and given their gear and the fearless Kushan leader from last night was up in the stands watching for once. And she stood and approached the balcony.
"The numbers far exceed our usual rates. And fun as it would be to go through the process of individual matches. I have a better idea... let's thin the numbers here and now, with the difficulty increasing every time the numbers are not down to a more desired number! What's say the crowd?!" She proclaimed and they all immediately cheered some booing but it was a majority ruling almost immediately. "Very well then! Release the Goliaths!" She ordered and the crowd roared even louder
Cole drew his sword as the rest of participants all were ready and waiting the loud thunderous thudding getting louder from all four gates at the four points as they all four swung open and pairs of two emerged, eight total Goliaths had entered the arena and immediately began smashing skulls or kicking and punching the contestants to death their screams mixing with the cheers of excitement. Cole immediately was froze. He remembered what happened in Blair, he was going to have to do that again... he didn't want to do that again. Until a fist of a Goliath came flying out of nowhere but his reaction was faster as his sword moved faster than he wanted to lobbing off the arm of the Goliath and with a spin the head of said Goliath came off causing the crowd to roar and boo, the mix almost even.
"Very well then! Release the Sabertooth Tigerlions!" Their leader then ordered the cheering growing even louder as four openings rose from the ground and four massive beasts emerged. They had the appearance of a tiger and Lion having crossbred along with the long tusks protruding out of their mouths and even sharper claws
These were going to be far more dangerous. But he didn't have time to think about the dangers, this is what he signed up for and fought on killing a few more of the Goliaths and almost getting mauled by one of the beasts as the crowd roared even louder cheering harder to see some real action only for him to kill the beast by stabbing it. The crowd once again was split but the numbers were now sufficiently thinned.
"Very well then! Let the tournament begin! The qualifying round is over!" Their leader declared and the crowd cheered
The first round of matches was soon under way and Cole was clearing the boards like it was nothing learning the ropes quick of how the fights were expected to go, to play into the dramatics and theatrically, to make the crowd love you, to draw a fight out with more than just a sword and his bow but also using his body as a weapon as well, further pushing himself into the way of the monk, only gaining more experience and so close to leveling up.
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Days turned weeks, weeks turned into a few months, all the while Cole won tournament after tournament, having cleared the whole racket everytime...
The final round was his after taking his sixth tournament, he was practically king of the arena now. Not a single person on the island beside their fearless leader could match him. Cole had finally leveled up twice and his status sheet shown this update as he was now a level 4 adventurer and his classes were split into level 2 fighter and level 2 monk...
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With this he was cleaned up and clothed in the finest set of robes, the attendants had washed his hair and tied it back. Now leading him to the palace that was the leaders. Every leader took up residence here when they took over, the only people allowed inside was the leader themselves, the servants of their choosing, and of course the messengers. But the leader could make a special exception of guests. But he had earned her audience with his spectacular display of skills and a lovely handwritten invitation. Once inside a number of women were tending to him helping him along and offering him alcohol and to rub his shoulders or please him in anyway.
"That's quite enough ladies. He's my guest, we shouldn't overwhelm him." Tigress teased dismissing her servants as they all bowed and left the two of them to their own devices Cole chuckling some
"So this is what they call the royal treatment." He joked a little as she walked down from her alter
"Oh it is. People tending to your every need; clothing you, bathing you, feeding you, counseling you and keeping your equipment in perfect shape as well guarding you with their own lives. It's overwhelming, but you get used to it." She explained to him letting him wander around her chambers
He stopped at the balcony and looked around at the island as he wat he'd the people going on about their lives in sea of glowing lights. It made him smile a little.
"It's beautiful, I know...” she said softly “You know the people will eventually expect you to make a decision on what to do as the new reigning champion." Tigress said softly as she was next to him now
Cole’s serenity and bliss slowly began to fracture and break. Like ice or glass. A sneaking suspicion slowly crept in. But he kept his expression well guarded as best as he could muster.
"So... they'll expect a challenge of me... and you?" He asked trying to play dumb looking to her
"Yes. They will. It would be a great insult for you not to. However the outcome of the fight is left to us and the crowd. If you lose you'll still be the greatest champion we've seen in ages but you would serve me. Wether you kill me or force me to yield you become the new leader." She explained to him not phased at all and not looking his way
He was still lost in thought of this and how he felt a path he didn't ask for bearing down on him. Now this time he was being forced into a rulership of a land that was not his to call his own.
“But for the night… I am yours. However you desire me. Whether we drink the night away, talk it away, or… something else entirely.” She said letting her guard down not playing at anything or attempting to seduce him but merely suggesting what could be
“Well I hope our conversation doesn’t disappoint you.” He replied coyly now as she quirked an eyebrow in response but smirked a little
Taking his hand she guided him back to her chambers as they sat together on the floor, a large finely woven rug beneath them and cushions for them to rest against. As their talk went longer and they moved closer and as they drank more they became frisky as she pulled at his robes while he undressed her in exchange. They rolled over as their kissing only became more intense letting their bodies get more tangled up in each other.
The night slowly ending as they laid there together the moonlight and fireplace the only sources of light both wide awake as they held each other a simple blanket the only covering they had. As he stared out at the sky he couldn’t help but think of what was to come. Where his enemy would strike, or when.
“Rest. You’ve earned it.” Tigress said hazily as she pulled herself closer to him
Cole himself still so lost and unsure of her own desires for him, her aura dark and ever elusive. But he would not think of that for now, finally closing his eyes at last…
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Nearly another month passed before the crowds and the general populace was getting restless and hungry for a fight. Word of a fight against their fearless leader and the newest champion was spreading like wildfire. Tradition demanded it, honor bound this fight was going to happen…
Cole had learned all he could and was now dressed in a new set of clothes fashioned as well his armor being serviced. His sword on his hip and bow on his back as he walked through the long dark hallway hear and feeling the roar of the crowd. This was it. What he had been dreading. He could handle the fight but the outcome was what he feared the most. He didn’t even want to think of the consequences good or bad.
The sun finally hit him as the crowd cheered even harder, Tigress herself already there and waiting.
“So. How are we going to play this out? Beyond giving a good show.” Cole asked as she merely smiled and gave a chuckle
“Well… let’s ask the crowd.” She said and raised her arms up “Well?! What says the crowd?! How shall this fight play out?! Death or yield?!” She called amplifying her voice with some kind of enchantment or spell the crowd immediately split half and half on the decision “Well?! What’s say you?!” She shouted louder the crowd only becoming louder “Very well! We shall let it play out as it does!” She declared as they all exploded with even more cheers
With this a mechanical click sounded as the gauntlet on her wrist unfolded and opened into a shield. Cole the most surprised as he’d never seen her fight but it was fitting almost, a sword user fighting against a shield user and both were trained as monks. She had years on him and knew how to work the crowd. But he couldn’t think about that, he drew his sword carefully. He exhaled and was ready.
Immediately charging her he swung hard and fast at her shield as she blocked his every strike with precision and barely showing any sign of worry. Blocking another set of strikes she swung hard sending him flying back as he did a backflip immediately to save himself landing on his feet but she was already on him again slamming her shield into his chest knocking him to the ground now. Fighting like this was taxing. Even after a whole year. She was on a different level. But he couldn’t walk away now, he had to see this through.
“You’re good. Most challengers can’t keep up with me. Your technique with a sword is unlike any I’ve seen pass through, that sword itself is something else entirely.” Tigress said praising him
Cole dragged himself from the dirt his hand over his chest still hurting from that.
“Yeah and your defense with that shield is impregnable.” Cole added praising her in turn for her technique “You remind me of a book I once read. About a guy who fought with a shield, not bad.” He added a hint of sarcasm in his voice and a smirk on his face as she chuckled softly at this amused by his banter
“Cmon then, show me the real you. Show me how you really fight. Let that beast out inside of you.” Tigress said smirking “And if you won’t I’ll just force it out.” She added as she dug into him hard releasing a flurry of blows with both her first and alternating with her shield hitting him harder then sent him flying back again with a powerful kick
He dragged himself up yet again using his sword to help himself up. He looked at it again. And he could still feel that power radiating deep in it. His eyes closing as he breathed deeply and slowly like the day he cut down the tree of his village….
‘I have never prayed to you, I’ve never even asked your name or given you one myself. I can only imagine how your last master was. But please, lend me your strength and I will give you a name worthy of the power you hold…’ he thought to himself
And he could feel the power radiating off of it was now intense not like before but far more controlled like the very sword was almost alive and obeying him. There was no aura coming off it but the presence alone could easily by felt by any trained adventurer.
The black blade miraculously glowing red now like was bleeding through the black of the blade. He could feel intense heat radiating from the blade, like the weapon itself was on fire but there were no flames, he felt like if he wasn’t careful the flames would consume him.
Focusing this new found power he calmed himself and forcing him back into control and raising the blade as he held it with both hands now.
“There it is… show me what you got boy. Show me the true animal inside you!” Tigress said grinning harder as they both charged at one another and clashing once more his blade striking hard against her shield releasing a shockwave of energy but neither moving even leaving a large burn scratch on the face of the shield now
He started driving her back with powerful slashes and jabs as she dodged and ducked and fended off with her shield. But he wasn’t going to give up easily or relent in the slightest forcing her on purely the defensive. His anger driving him forward but she wasn’t the slightest bit afraid of him, only excitement was in her eyes. Bringing his sword down for another well timed strike, her leg caught him off guard as he was kicked off to the side and knocking him down again.
The crowd cheering in Tigress’ favor now and growing more.
“You lack focus. But I like what I see, perhaps you will serve me well Phoenix.” She said as she started to turn away
The fight was now over. She had more than beaten him in terms of strength as well as working the crowd. But it was yet to be officially declared over.
Without truly thinking, Cole moved in a flash as she immediately was thrown off by his sudden burst attack. Swinging up managed to knock her shield up and out of the way it was all over now he could go for the killing blow. The fire that burnt in his eyes no fire of a man with ambition, but that of something far older, a primordial fire.. and for the briefest moment she showed the slightest hint of fear feeling her breath hitch in her throat.
“I yield.” She mouthed
This instantly stopped him from taking her head off and just barely nicking her before he moved it away. The thin mark of a cut on her neck now, only for it to immediately start show signs of a burn mark. Cole could still feel the power of the sword radiating strongly. He could start to few and understand more of its previous owners now. The impressions they left behind, their emotions, their aura. Now it was his to use and tame, but also to learn from and grow with as well and form their own unique bond that left his own impression and understanding upon this weapon.
The image of a woman with crimson hair took form in his mind now, the morning sun obscuring her face, only able to see her Hazel eyes through a silhouetted veil. She sat alone atop a mountain, watching, waiting, guiding.
‘Do not lose sight of what is the path. The twists and turns it takes are what make it worth it, for what we find that is precious and worth protecting, we do not falter. We may lose the way, get turn around, find something that was not intended, so we must keep moving forward.’
But just as quickly as the vision had come to him it was already fading from his mind and returning him to his sense…
“I Surrender! I’m done fighting! I won’t be swallowed by only fighting for fighting’s sake. I have wasted enough time!” Cole declared sheathing his sword and turning to leave was immediately stopped by guards the elders now getting up from their seats in the stands now
“You are not allowed to just call a fight like this over when you feel like it! You have sullied our traditions!” One of the elders shouted his voice enhanced by magic
“Screw your traditions! I don’t give a damn what they are! I have no time! I’ve got something more important to do!” Cole demanded
“You will watch your tone boy! You have already broken the unspoken rule now you continue to defy us?!” The second said even louder
“I was hoping I could learn something useful here! But all you care about is a good fight. Well I’m not about that. You wanna execute me, try me.” Cole said loudly
“You leave us no choice! Your mouth has dug your own grave!” The third elder commanded
Cole had a hand on his weapon ready to fight his way out if he had too. Tigress surprised him with a powerful punch in the gut that was even more powerful than before. She was just holding back the whole fight this was a real punch. But before he could process he was out cold as she immediately slung him on her shoulder and and leapt out of the arena and ran as fast as she could heading for the far side of the island that was the least populated and was her own little getaway when she slipped away on days when she needed to be alone. And she had a small boat there as well.
By nightfall he’d finally woken up his body bandaged and healing. Though he still hurt like hell.
“So you’re awake at last. Sorry. But I had to act fast. Not very good at healing. I just know how to stop bleeding and properly bandage wounds. You’ll just have to work through the pain.” Tigress explained
“Could’ve gone a little easier.” He said groaning as he forced himself up “Why are we here? I could’ve fought my way out.” He added still pissed
“You were not ready to kill. You’re unbalanced. You need equilibrium in your soul. Your monk training is alright as a backup but you’re a fighter by trade. You need something more than just a sword or your bow. You need to know where your soul lies.” Tigress explained to him breaking down what he needed to improve
He sat that there thinking about it. He didn’t quite understand what she meant by where his soul lied.
“I’ve got someone waiting for me back on the mainland. We’re a party of two right now. I wouldn’t ask you to leave.” Cole said being honest with her
“Well seeing as I’m no longer the leader of the clan I’m no longer bound to the throne. The elders will have to dust off the old scrolls on how to proceed..” Tigress explained to him but had a far away look like she had more say but chose not too “And I am bound to you since I surrendered to your blade, until we fight again and I win or I die. Or of course if I die in battle.” She added
“Then I’d be honored to have you as a companion. We make for the east. My partner will be waiting.” He added and with that they set out taking the seas….
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